My Fordson Super Major has stopped and are unmovable

[Urban_SWEDEN]

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice since my FSM -62 are unmovable.....

What have happened:
We pulled a load of hay in a flat slope and the tractor sounded exhausted (low gear and heavy load).
When we declutched the motor died and´the tractor was stuck ie not possible to move since the wheels will not turn. I didn't matter if the clutch was engaged or declutched. We had to tow the tractor some meters becasue otherwise it blocked the road.

First thougth was that maybee the transmission brake had hooked up (I can see that 1 of the 5 rotating discs are damaged but it does not seems as that are causing the stop..) but I would like to rule out other possibillities before starting to split the tractor.

I lifted up the tractor in the rear end and the wheels are turning (one in each direction) so it seems not to be a problem with brakes or differential.

The motor seems to turn around when trying to start the engine, can't be compleatly sure since the starting motor is not working (that will be my first priority when the tractor are moving again).

I have opened the 2 inspections hatches and taken some photos (will show them as soon as I understand how).
I'm hoppening for some advice on how to find out if it is the transmission our any other part of the tractor before starting to split the tractor.

Please someone give me tips on how to analyse that may be causing the immovable situation for my tractor.

Urban
Soon a happy FSM owner

[Brian]

Welcome to the board.

You have what seems to be a classic case of transmission handbrake failure.

The other possibility is a seized gearbox bearing but from your description, I would br 95% certain it is the handbrake.

Drain the gearbox oil and see what comes out of the plug.

[Urban_SWEDEN]

Thank you for your answer Brian.

Enclosed now are some picture from the gearbox taken after removing the plates on the right and left side.
First picture shows a damaged rotating disc in the transmission brake so yes that can be the problem.


Second and third picture shows the rearend of the primary gearbox. Any thing else that looks bad?



Fourth picture shows the front end of the primary gearbox.


Most likley I need to tow the tractor to the garage, how can I do that whithout making any damages to the stuck transmission?
Is it posssible to tow the tractor with one of the back wheels in the air so it can turn the "wrong way" without connection to the ground?

[Brian]

What you have to do is free the plates by hammering a screwdrive/long chisel between them. It is not easy, I have done it many times in the same situation though mine were usually in a sugar beet field when the temperature was around freezing point.

After you get it sorted, remove the handbrake ratchet from the gearbox housing and grid off the first three teeth, then the handbrake will not be left just on again. We did this to all new tractors on Pre-Delivery Inspection and it cured the problem.

[Urban_SWEDEN]

Hi Brain (and all others).

Thank you again for a good answer and advice, today (varm and good weather )I manage to work in the transmission brake.
I took a knife and screwdriver and managed to loosen all the plates. It was 2 plates that had to be bended apart, I heard a qlicking sound when they came apart.

However the gearbox did still not turn around when I rocked the tractor back and forth....
After a while of sliding the pinions into different position and bending the reverse idler in the transmission brake with the screwdriver the tractor now turns the transmission shaft and all gears, hurray .

But I still have a problem, 2 of the plates in the transmission brake does not look good, as seen on the picture they have been worn and can be partly removed.
I think this can be a problem since the lower left reverse pinon can stop on these plates if they are sticking out.

I'm thinking about trying to get them out, most likely this will affect the transmission brake function but maybe just the same effect as grinding some teeths away as you suggested.
Any tips about how to get those damaged plates out?